192 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education whether he will extend the European Social Fund or higher education grants to diploma type courses run by private colleges such as those sponsored by the beauty therapy association; and if he will outline the criteria he would apply to the recognition of these courses.

193 Mr. Moynihan asked the Minister for Education if he will investigate the possibility of having the Institute of Education Business College, Portobello House, Dublin 6, included among those colleges which have student grant eligibility.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 192 and 193 together.

The terms of the Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Acts, 1968 and 1978, apply to approved institutions as defined in the Acts.

Section 1 of the 1968 Act, as amended by section 1 of the 1978 Act, defines an approved institution as follows:

"approved institution" means a university, university college, or other institution of higher education in so far as it proves a course or courses of not less than two years duration, being a course or courses of which the Minister approves for the time being for the purposes of section 2 of this Act.

In principle, higher education grants could be paid to eligible students on approved courses in designated private institutions but the financial and other implications need to be considered further before a decision can be made.